THE PUNK SINGER

Filmmaker Sini Anderson explores the life and career of punk rocker Kathleen Hanna, the Bikini Kill frontwoman who became a pioneer of the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s

Kathleen Hanna, lead singer of the punk band Bikini Kill and dance-punk trio Le Tigre, rose to national attention as the reluctant but never shy voice of the 'Riot grrrl' movement. She became one of the most famously outspoken feminist icons, a cultural lightning rod. Her critics wished she would just shut-up, and her fans hoped she never would. So in 2005, when Hanna stopped shouting, many wondered why. Through 20 years of archival footage and intimate interviews with Hanna, The Punk Singer takes viewers on a fascinating tour of contemporary music and offers a never-before-seen view into the life of this fearless leader.

Winner of Women In Cinema Lena Sharpe Award.

CELEBRATING MUSIC STORE DAY: MONDAY 16-SATURDAY 21 APRIL

This special strand of the Foyle Film Festival Spring Cinema Programme celebrates Music Store Day on Saturday 21 April with a series of the best documentaries exploring and celebrating Punk Rock - including the documentary HERE TO BE HEARD: THE STORY OF THE SLITS. This special celebration will culminate with a gig by local punk rock band THE WOOD BURNING SAVAGES in the Nerve Centre on Saturday 21 April.

“Powerful vintage performance footage shows quickly what made Hanna so provocative: Though fighting sexism was her front-and-center agenda, Hanna took the stage in skimpy outfits, sometimes with "slut" written on a bare midriff, and danced in a punk-meets-girlie-show way that was undeniably sexy.”